Clerk warns federal proof‑of‑citizenship proposals could penalize local election workers

El Paso County Clerk and Recorder Steve Schleicher used a public meeting at the Citizen Service Center to explain how pending federal proposals could affect local election administration and volunteers.

Schleicher described HR22 (referred to in the briefing as the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act) as a House‑passed bill addressing proof‑of‑citizenship for voter registration. "It passed the House and is now on to the Senate," he said. He and attendees discussed an accompanying presidential executive order and separate proposals (referenced as the "Mesa Act") that would address tabulation equipment.

Why it matters: Schleicher said the proposals, as written or contemplated, could impose documentary proof requirements for new registrants (for example, a passport or Real ID showing citizenship) and create criminal or civil penalties for clerks and election judges who certify or process registrations that later prove to be noncitizen registrations. Because El…